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The use of thyroid hormone in the treatment of depression: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

M. Vegt ,
J.A. Bruijn  and
T.K. Birkenhäger
M. Vegt*
Affiliation:
Psychiatrisch Centrum Joris. Delft
J.A. Bruijn
Affiliation:
Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam Dijkzigt. Hoofd: Prof. Dr. W.J. Schudel
T.K. Birkenhäger
Affiliation:
Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam Dijkzigt. Thans: Psychiatrisch Centrum Bloemendaal. Den-Haag.
*
Buizerdstraat 70. 2665 TG. Bleiswijk
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Summary

The writers of this paper made an inventory of the studies on the use of thyroid hormone in the treatment of depression. Fifteen clinical trials (353 patients), published between 1969 and 1987. were found, that can be described, as to their design, in two seperate groups:

One group (7 studies) administers thyroid hormone simultaneously with a tricyclic antidepressant to reach a faster effect of the antidepressant. The other group (8 studies) adds thyroid hormone to a tricyclic antidepressant in patients who fail to respond to this treatment, with the aim to convert therapeutic failure to success. After studying the literature we think we are able to conclude that it can be usefull to combine the antidepressant with thyroid hormone in view of the fact that, in a number of depressed patients, it shortens the duration of the illness. The augmentation of tricyclics by thyroid hormone needs further study.

Keywords

depressionthyroid hormonetricyclic antidepressantsdepressieschildklierhormoontricyclische antidepressiva
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , June 1991 , pp. 17 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 1991

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